Means for molding and compressing perishable foodstuffs for quick freezing



Aug. 13, 1935. F. c. HANNAFO'RD MEANS' FOR MOLDING AND COMPRESSINGPERISHABLE FOODSTUFFS FOR QUICK FREEZING Filed April 20, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet l v M Arman F. c. HANNAFORD 2,011,244 R QUICK FREEZING 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 13, 1935.

MEANS FOR MOLDING AND COMPRESSING PERISHABLE FOODSTUFFS F0 Filed April20, 1932 l /fin l VENTOR ATTOR NEY mad .Patented Au ie, 1935. I

'T *L AT S i-PATENT- OFFICE f MEANS FOR Y PERISHABLE. FREEZING- Mo nnvGAND .coMPnEsslNG FOODSTUFFS FOR "QUICK My'present invention hasreference to a' means for shaping, molding andcompressing perishablefoodstuffs into packages for quick freezing. In

the freezing of any sea food, fruit'or vegetables by sharp orquick'freezing process, it is very, cs-

sential that the extreme coldness be applied to the food to be frozen asquickly as possible at the lowest temperature, and when this is donewith solid carbon dioxide or any brine orchemical thatwill create atemperature'from to 150 below Fahrenheit, such cold temperatures must betrans-' mitted to the food in the packages so swiftly that the foodcells andjuice's in the cells are not burste'd, separated or broken upby the crysta1li-' zationvof the fluids in the cells, and it is,therefore, the object of this invention to produce a method and meansfor obtaining this result.

The invention will be comprehensively and fully understood from thefollowing description which is to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the form frame stuif, which may beinthe nature of sea foods,

employed. r v

Figure 2 is a detail plan view looking toward one of the corners of theframe.

FigureB is a detail sectional view approximately on the line 33 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective View to illustrate the manner in which thedivision plates and frame are interlocked with each other.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view illustrating the manner in whichthe food is packed in the freezing or form frame. 7

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the portion of the device disclosedby Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a similar view with the mold filler removed.

Figure 8 is a detail longitudinal sectional view showing the coverplates for the freezing form frameswung thereover and against a packedbox or package of foodstuff which is arranged in the frame.

Figure 9 is a perspective viewof the box or package employed.

The freezing form frame which is employed in my improved means is ofaluminum, the sides and ends being welded together and the frame isadditionally reinforced for contraction and expansion by heavy brassscrews 2 that are threaded in openings in the end members of the frame.The form in the frame, comprises aluminum plates or strips 3 and 4,respectively. The strips 3 have their ends provided with openings 5through which pass the brass screws 2 and the said strips the size ofthe forms.

3 from their lower edges are-provided with equidistantlyspaced notches6. It'should be stated thatthe inner face of the form I has notches orslots for the 3 and 4.

The strips reception of .the ends of the strips l have notches 1 thatenter from their upper-edges for'the passage of the notched portions 5of the strips 3 to establish an interlocking joint between the strips 3and 4. The grooves or slots at the confronting faces of the 10 front andrearof the frame I communicate with notches 1 that enter from the top ofthe said members of the frame, and these notches receive 7 thereincorner projections 8 on the upper-edges 'of the strips 4., By thisarrangement it will be noted that the mold strips are eifectively heldin looking engagement andlikewise securely held inthe frame I Byremoving the brass screws 2 certain of the strips may be removed to varyv "Hingedly secured to the rear of the frame I I there are top andbottom cover plates 9 and I0, respectively. The box or packages for thefood such as fish, oysters, shrimp, crabs, etc., and which may be in thenature of fruits, syrups, berries or 'juices, are constructed ofparaflined jute manila and'are of a size to-fit the forms provided bythe strips 3 and 4. The jute manila boxes I I have both their inner andouter faces treated with parafline, and the said boxes are constructedeach 'from a single blank of material'and scored to form the same intoproper shape and the top of each box or package I I is provided withflaps designed to be folded over each other for sealing the box orpackage- Also each box or package may and preferably has its outer faceprovided with a window l2.

When the box or package is arranged in one of the molds as disclosed byFigures 5, 6 and 7 of 40 the drawings I arrange in the said box or pack:age an aluminum member which Iv will term a mold filler and which isindicated in the drawings by the numeral I 3. The mold filler is of agreater height than the body of the box and is of a size and shapecorresponding to that of the box. Before the mold filler is placed inthe box I fold therearound a sheet of cellophane which has its top openbut its bottom closed. The food or merchandise to, be placed in a box 0to be frozen is weighed and poured into the mold filler and is forcedinto the filler by the plunger l4 that is operated by a handle l5. Thehead of the plunger preferably has fixed on its outer face an aluminumplate l6 which is of a size corresponding with the interior shape anddiameter of the mold filler l3. A pressure on the plunger is exerted sothat the foodstuff may be forced into the mold filler down to the levelof the form frame. The plunger is held against the foodstuff and themold filler is lifted out of the box, thus leaving the food ormerchandise inside of the cellophane liner forming a perfect package,form and mold, and at the same time forming the cellophane into the boxin perfect shape for a perfect seal over the food inside of theparaffine jute manila box. Over the folded top of the cellophane theflaps comprising the top of the box H are folded, thus closing andsealing the package. When the merchandise is packed in all of the formsthe cover plates 9 and H! are swung over the freezing form I and wherebyeach box in the form is entirely enclosed on every side with aluminum.Aluminum is a quick conductor and retainer of cold and will rapidlyconduct the cold through the paper and cellophane so that the packedfood is quickly frozen, and the package and food is retained in perfectshape and condition by the form frame. The freezing means may be in thenature of solid carbon dioxide or any other brine system of sharp andquick freezing. Among the advantages of the invention may be mentionedthe form frame which greatly increases the conductivity of cold to allsides and edges of the box and package, the manner in which the formframe holds the package to be frozen in perfect shape, the said box orpackage not being broken by contraction and expansion of the extremecold to which it is subjected. All packages or boxes may be molded thesame size and shape, enabling the packing, packaging, storing andshipping of the packages in a solid mass, closely packed together and,therefore, requiring less refrigeration in storage or transit than wouldbe required to retain each individual box in its frozen state. is formedinto a perfect form as to contour and shape, with the least handling,thereby making the package sanitary from human touch, in the method ofinserting the food into the packages through the mold and filler and aidof plunger. The cellophane may be perfectly folded around the moldfiller and inserted in the box or package after the box is in the formframe and the mold filler protects the cellophane protruding from thetop of the box, from becoming broken, soiled or disarranged and afterthe mold filler is removed from the box the cellophane may be moved downover the food, making a complete seal from moisture or vapor, and thetop of the box being closed while the box is in the frame. After the boxis frozen in the form frame it is perfectly sealed with the cellophaneinside of the box and the box is formed into a perfect frozen package.The boxes, cellophane and the food can be packed into the form frame incon- The package tinuous consecutive order which greatly increases therapidity of the forming of the package, and the placing of the food inthe package to render the same instantly ready for freezing. After thepackage is frozen it is easily removed from the frame and is storingwithout additional handling. The package being in perfect shape and formmakes a perfect package to pack, ship or store, and can be keptindefinitely with the right temperature in the exact shape it wasremoved from the form frame, and being in perfect shape it can be packedto ship with solid carbon dioxide, in corrugated containers occupyingthe very smallest space, packing into solid form, with the least voids,thereby requiring the minimum refrigeration in transit. After thepackage reaches the distributor or retailer, it may be packed in theirrefrigerator or display case for the most advantageous display. Thecontents of the box are discernible through the window l2 which iscovered by the cellophane container.

The freezing frame or form is made adjustable to different size packagesto be frozen by the removal of the partition strips of aluminum in theframe.

The covers of the frame may be arranged with lips or grooves, wherebythe frame may be used in any brine system of freezing, where brine issprayed upon the frame or mold as it travels on a movable conveyor belt,or it may be used in a diving bell that is immersed into the freezingbrine. This frame may be used in any system of freezing either withsprayed brine or immersed in brine and in cold air freezing, and givethe same results as to forming the packages into perfect shape into thefrozen state.

Then in the matter of freezing liquids, all kinds of liquids may bepacked, packaged, closed into this frame and frozen into solid state inperfect shape, such as liquids of soups, broths,

water ices, ice cream, sherbets, juices of fruits and berries, etc. Infact, anything in liquid shape that will freeze, will form a perfectpackage, and may be used in any of the different systems of freezing.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A quick freezing mold for the purpose set forth, comprising asubstantially rectangular body frame, having its faces provided withequidistantly spaced notches, plates having their ends received in thenotches and having notches in their contacting portionsforinterengagement, screws passing through the body frame and through theplates in a line with the sides of said frame for holding all the platesin the frame, and said plates providing therebetween and with the bodyframe mold cells, hinged cover plates for covering the cells and moldframe, and said plates, frame and covers being constructed of metalhaving a high cold conductivity.

FREDERICK C. HANNAFORD.

ready for packing, or

